Afghan Medal awarded to General Sir William Nott in 1842

Description

General Sir William Nott (1782-1845) has been claimed as Carmarthen's most famous soldier. William joined the East India Company in 1800 and was posted to the Bengal European Regiment. From 1804 his military career developed, but it was the First Afghan War which saw Nott distinguish himself as a military leader and his promotion to Major General. In 1842 he won three decisive battles, at Kandahar, Ghuznee, and Kabul. As a result, Nott received considerable acclaim and he was invested with the order of the GCB. His health had suffered in the East, and in 1844 he returned to Carmarthen where he died within four months of his return. He was buried in St. Peter's Church and honoured by the erection of a commemorative statue in Market Street (now Nott Square).